Assembly passes Bill to increase daily work in shops to 10 hours

The Assembly on Friday passed a Bill to amend the Delhi Shops and Establishments Act, 1954, with a view to promote “employment generation, economic activity, and gender inclusion”.

The Delhi Shops and Establishments (Amendment) Bill, 2026, however, will not cover smaller establishments, thereby depriving such workers of rights and protection under the existing law.

The Bill, cleared within five minutes, limits the Delhi Shops and Establishments Act, 1954’s applicability to commercial establishments “employing 20 or more employees”, excluding a vast segment of the workforce from its purview.

The Bill increases the daily working hours of employees at shops and establishments from nine hours per day to 10 hours, including rest interval and lunch break.

It also seeks amendments to allow women to work in night shifts, which was already done by an official notification last year.

Safeguards for workers

The existing law applies to all shops and establishments, irrespective of size. It provides workers with a set of safeguards, including fixed working hours, weekly holidays, mandatory paid leave, rest intervals, and a month’s notice before dismissal. Labour unions said these protections will no longer be available to workers in smaller shops once the new law comes into effect.